Jain Journal 1986 01

SR No.: 520081
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publication Year: 1986
Total Pages: 55
Language: English
Classification: Magazine, India_Jain Journal, & India
File Size: 4 MB

Page 22

JANUARY, 1986
Concept of Measurement in Jaina Cannons
Jaina cannons have coined the term of mana or pramāņa for the process of measurement. Though Anuyogadvārasūtra (ADS), Bhagavati (B), Trilokaprajñapti (TP), Jambudvipaprajñapti (JDP) and other cannons do not mention classification of measures, but Rājavārtika (RV) and Trilokasära (TS)8 have accepted two varieties of measures-laukika or worldly and lokottara or para-worldly. The first category is mainly related with weight, volume, cost or number of materials and has six sub-classes. These are virtually measures of mass (dravya-māna) only. Though ADS and RV seem to include the length measures through the variety of avamana, but TS9 has described it as a measure of volume. This seems to be more reasonable in view of the descriptions.
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The para-worldly variety includes the measure of length and time. It has actually four sub-classes-dravya (matter), length in all respects (kşetra), kāla (time) and bhāva (quality). The matter-measure gives us the weight and volume of materials from the smallest atom to the largest earth. The length-measure gives us the distance, area and volume of one space unit to the last of the world space. Time units measure from one samaya unit of time to infinite time units and qualitymeasures knowledge, perception, view-points and numbers. All these four para-worldly measures of Akalanka are covered by the four general measure types of ADS. In contrast, the Satkhaṇḍāgama (SK),10 has five general types of measure seperating view-point type from bhava of ADS. The para-worldly nature of these measures seems to be the creation of Akalanka of 7th. century who has many credits of this type. In addition, the ADS has classified the units of time, matter and length in two varieties-space-point based and division based. The first one has atom as the basis while the other has five varieties of units to which Akalanka has added tat-pramāņa as the sixth variety under worldly matter units. The division-based basic units of time and length are samaya and angula respectively. In contrast, Akalanka has these two varieties of units for length alone. The authors of B, TP and JDP do not propound any para-worldly measures like Akalanka.
Jain, J.C. and Mehta, M.L., Jain Sahitya-ka Vrhat Itihas-2, PVRI, Varanasi, 1986, p. 322.
Sudharma Svami, Bhagavati Sutra-I, JSR, Sailana, 1966, p. 1038.
5 Acarya Yativrsabha, Tilayapannatti-1, JSS Sangha, Sholapur, 1956, p. 13 Acarya Padmanandi, Jambudvipapannatti, Ibid., 1958, p. 237.
7 Bhatta Akalanka, Tattvartha Vartika-1, Bharatiya Jnanapith, Delhi, 1944, p. 2058.
8 Cakravarti Nemicandra, Trilokasara., SDJS, Mahavirji, 1975, p. 12.
• Ibid.
10 Acarya Puspadanta and Bhutabali, Satkhandagama-1. Amraoti, 1939, p. 80.